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The effects of waterlogging on Chinese yam tuber malformation development in directional trough were studied by setting waterlogging treatments. The results showed that the soil in directional trough was close to saturated moisture for a long time and the yam tuber malformation and decay were induced without timely drainage after waterlogging. The longer the waterlogging treatment time, the more serious the tuber malformation and decay. Waterlogging may induce the formation of tuber malformation by significantly increasing the contents of auxin (IAA) and gibberellin (GA3) in the tuber. Waterlogging also significantly reduced the contents of starch, crude protein and saponins in tuber, thus decreased the function and nutritional quality of Chinese yam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Potyvirus diseases are one of the main challenges facing the production of yam (Dioscorea spp.). The objective of this study was to identify the potyviruses present in the Dioscorea spp. germplasm collection at Instituto de Investigaciones de Viandas Tropicales (INIVIT) to establish methodologies for the characterization of the associated diseases. For this purpose, immunochemical and molecular methods were used to identify the potyviruses present. The symptomatology of Dioscorea spp. at INIVIT's germplasm collection was described. In addition, the severity and incidence in the germplasm collection and production areas were evaluated. As a result, the first report of yam mosaic virus (Potyvirus yamtesselati) and yam mild mosaic virus (Potyvirus yamplacidum) in Cuba is presented. The existence of resistant, tolerant, and susceptible cultivars to potyvirus-associated diseases in the germplasm collection was detected, and the incidence of these diseases was higher than 64% in the production areas evaluated. This study represents a step forward in the establishment of certification programs for propagating material of Dioscorea spp. in Cuba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white grub, Diaprepes abbreviatus L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a significant pest of yam tubers and the second cause of tuber rot in Haiti. Larval feeding inflicts severe damage to tubers, leading to notable losses due to decreased tuber quality, reduced marketability and increased susceptibility to secondary parasites and pathogens. This study examined the influence of planting and harvesting dates on the vulnerability of yam tubers to white grub infestation and the resulting tuber quality across 24 farmers' fields. At harvest, we assessed the level of tuber infestation, white grub density and the tuber quality index. The results indicated that 85% of grub populations were found in fields planted on the traditional date. In addition, 69.5% of tuber damage occurred in early‐planted fields with fewer tubers damaged (30%) when harvested early. In contrast, in fields planted 30 days after the traditional date, the harvest date did not affect tuber infestation and damage by the pest. Overall, both planting and harvest dates impacted the quality grade of yam tubers. Delayed planting by 30 days and early harvesting (34th–38th week after planting) improved the marketability of yams. These findings highlight the importance of optimising planting and harvest schedules to better manage white grub infestation and enhance the marketability of yam tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of allergic diseases worldwide is rising dramatically in both developed and developing countries. Dioscorea alata (DA) contains flavonoids and saponin steroid which have potential as anti-allergic agents. This research aims to examine the anti-allergy potential of the ethanol extract of Dioscorea alata (EEDA) through IgE and IgG1 levels and to investigate the bioactivity of the phytocompound of hexane extract of D. alata (HEDA) in silico. Allergy-induced BALB/c mice used Ovalbumin and were treated with EEDA for 30 days. The levels of B220IgE and B220IgG1 were evaluated. In silico analysis was conducted with HEDA, phytocompound from previous research, 3D structure from PubChem (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/), Chemspider (http://www.chemspi-der.com/), Bioactivity analysis on Molinspiration (https://www.molinspiration.com/), PassOnline (http://www. way2drug.com/passonline/predict.php) webservers, target proteins from SwissTarget (http:// www.swisstargetprediction.ch/), STRING (https://string-db.org/), and analyzed with Cytoscape ver 3.9.1. The docking analysis utilizes Vina, a built-in tool in PyRx 0.9, and the results are visualized using Biovia Discovery Studio. B220IgE and B220IgG1 levels decreased in the EEDA treatment significantly (p<0,05). The bioactivity predictions showed the activity of enzyme inhibitors, anti-inflammation agents, and cholesterol antagonists. Clionasterol, 9,12-octadecadienoic, and triosanol-1 are the phytocompounds with the highest average bioactivity scores. PSEN1, NR1C1, MAPK14, PTGS2, NR1C2, F2, FABP1, KDR, CNR1, and UGT2B7 are target proteins. Molecular docking results showed that clionasterol had the lowest average binding energy, followed by caryophyllene oxide and 11-pentan-3-ylhenicosane. Clionasterol had a high potential to interact with PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, and MAPK14 as an inhibitor. There was a decrease in B220IgE and B220IgG1 levels in mice given EEDA. Furthermore, Clionasterol could potentially inhibit PPAR and MAPK14, potentially leading to anti-inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a main staple tuber crop in Nigeria and the West African region. Its performance is determined by genotypes and also the environment of growth. This study assessed the agronomic performance and yield stability of elite white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) genotypes across diverse Nigerian environments. A total of 25 genotypes were evaluated at three locations in two consecutive growing seasons, 2022 and 2023, for fresh tuber yield, disease resistance, and tuber quality traits. The genotype's performance and stability for the measured traits were assessed using various analytical tools such as additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and multi-trait stability index (MTSI). The AMMI analysis revealed significant differences among the genotypes and across the environments for all traits (p < 0.001, p < 0.01). The PCA revealed that the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) explained a substantial portion of the total variation (49.84%). The MTSI identified four clones: G18, G19, G24, and G16 as promising candidates for improved yam production in Nigeria with high and stable performance for the multiple traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop disease often leads to field epidemics with serious threats to yield. Early symptoms are sometimes difficult to identify, so the origin of primary inoculum is a critical focal point in the study of plant diseases, as it can help design management strategies to reduce crop losses. Here, we investigated whether anthracnose of water yams (Dioscorea alata L.) caused by the species complex Colletotrichum gloeosporioides can start from infected seed tubers from the previous harvest. Over two years, we collected tubers with varying pathogen prevalence in the field directly from producers and conducted fungal isolations in the lab to sample C. gloeosporioides. We also proceeded to artificially inoculate tubers before planting and monitored disease development. Finally, we genotyped isolates from leaves in the fields and assessed fixation indices between plots based on plot ownership (plots with a common seed tuber origin from a single farmer) vs. samples in plots from unrelated producers in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Barbados. We were unable to isolate the fungus from harvested tubers in either sampling survey nor did any plants grown from inoculated tubers develop any disease symptoms during growth. Also, the genetic structure of samples within each plot was independent of plot ownership, though this occurred with varying levels in the different islands. These results suggest that contaminated planting material from seed tubers is not the primary source of the disease, which is in contrast to the common perception of yam anthracnose prevalence in the Antilles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. Dioscorea is one of the most important tuberous crops worldwide and is highly diverse across tropical and subtropical forests. Time-calibrated phylogenies and biogeographic reconstructions based on hypotheses derived solely from data on extant plants have suggested an east Laurasian origin during the Late Cretaceous to Eocene. However, the origin of the genus remains poorly understood because of the lack of unambiguous early Paleogene fossils. Methodology. Well-preserved capsular fin-winged fruits with three wings, crowned by epigynous stigmatic remnants with in situ seeds, from the early Eocene Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation in Fossil Lake Basin (of southwestern Wyoming) are described. The new fossils were photographed with reflected light and fluorescence microscopy and were compared with living Dioscoreaceae fruits. Pivotal results. These fossils can be placed confidently in Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae), and they are recognized as two new species: Dioscorea lindgrenii Herrera et Manchester sp. nov. and Dioscorea shermanii Herrera et Manchester sp. nov. Conclusions. These new early Eocene Dioscorea species enrich our understanding of the climbing elements of the Butte Member flora of Fossil Lake. They also document the long history of the genus in subtropical early Eocene forests and support a potential origin of Dioscorea in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minghuai 1 (MH1) is a yam (Dioscorea alata) cultivar characterized by its strong resistance to Cd stress. This study aims to investigate the enzymatic antioxidant system of MH1 under Cd stress. Under Cd treatment, MH1 exhibited an elevation in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, while the activities of ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase remained unchanged. A Cu/Zn-SOD gene, DaSOD1, was cloned and found to be up-regulated following Cd treatment. The DaSOD1 gene was further introduced into tobacco plants for functional analysis. Transgenic tobacco seedlings overexpressing DaSOD1 under Cd treatments exhibited increased chlorophyll contents and seed germination rate, while the levels of superoxide anion and malondialdehyde decreased compared to the wild-type plants. This suggests that DaSOD1 overexpression mitigated the negative effects of Cd stress by reducing oxidative damage in plants. Characterization of the SOD activity and its corresponding DaSOD1 gene is expected to improve our understanding of Cd-resistance mechanism in yam plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vertical yam pounding machine having a similar operational principle to the traditional method of pounding was developed. The machine consists of a shaft, pulleys, V-belts, bearings, an electric motor, a vertical pounder, a gear train and a pounding bowl. White yam was used to carry out a performance evaluation of the developed machine compared to a commercial yam pounder QASA® (LBQ041A, made in China) yam pounding machine and pounded yam from the traditional method of using mortar and pestle. It was observed that the traditional pounding operation, the developed and the QASA® yam pounding machines gave 89.73, 96.24 and 98.25% of well-pounded yam excluding lumps. However, the QASA® yam pounding machine is limited to a maximum of 4 kg mass of boiled yam. The average throughputs of the traditional pounding operation, the developed and the QASA® yam pounding machines were 20.3, 39.46 and 47.34 kg/h, while pounding times were 18 min, 10 min, and 5 min respectively. The developed machine had comparable quality with similar sensory scores with regards to the taste, aroma, stretchability, and mouldability to the one from the traditional method. It also had a comparative long-life span, and overall acceptability score and was preferred over the pounded yam produced by QASA® pounding machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Amylose, a prebiotic found in yams is known to be beneficial for the gut microflora and is particularly advantageous for diabetic patients’ diet. However, the genetic machinery underlying amylose production remains elusive. A comprehensive characterization of the genetic basis of amylose content in yam tubers is a prerequisite for accelerating the genetic engineering of yams with respect to amylose content variation. Results To uncover the genetic variants underlying variation in amylose content, we evaluated amylose content in freshly harvested tubers from 150 accessions of Dioscorea zingibensis. With 30,000 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), we performed a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS). The population structure analysis classified the D. zingiberensis accessions into three groups. A total of 115 significant loci were detected on four chromosomes. Of these, 112 significant SNPs (log10(p) = 5, q-value

Dioscorea bulbifera is an edible yam specie with aerial bulbils. Assessing the genetic diversity of D. bulbifera accession for cultivation and breeding purposes is essential for it genetic improvement, especially where the crop faces minimal attention. The aims of this study was to assess the genetic diversity of Dioscorea bulbifera accessions collected from Nigeria and accessions maintained at the genebank of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan. Accessions were profiled using quatitative and qualitative phenotypic traits and Diversity Array Technology SNP-markers. Multivariate analysis based phenotypic traits revealed high variability among the evaluated accessions and all phenotypic traits assessed were useful in discriminating the aerial yam accessions. Clustering analysis based phenotypic traits revealed the presence of two well defined clusters. Using DArT-Seq marker, the 94 accessions were classified into three genetic group through the admixture and the phylogeny analysis. The comparision of phenotypic and genotypic clustering revealed inconsistency membership across the two clustering methods. The study established a baseline for the selection of parental lines from the genetic groups for genetic improvement of the D. bulbifera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya, DP) is promising for the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential. Its proper cultivation is therefore of interest. An insufficient supply of minerals necessary for plant growth can be manifested by discoloration of the leaves. In our earlier study, magnesium deficiency was excluded as a cause. As a follow-up, this work focused on manganese and molybdenum. To quantify both minerals in leaf extracts of DP, analytical methods based on atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) using the graphite furnace sub-technique were devised. The development revealed that the quantification of manganese works best without using any of the investigated modifiers. The optimized pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 1300 °C and 1800 °C, respectively. For the analysis of molybdenum, calcium proved to be advantageous as a modifier. The optimum temperatures were 1900 °C and 2800 °C, respectively. Both methods showed satisfactory linearity for analysis. Thus, they were applied to quantify extracts from normal and discolored leaves of DP concerning the two minerals. It was found that discolored leaves had higher manganese levels and a lower molybdenum content. With these results, a potential explanation for the discoloration could be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigation of extracts from bulbils of Dioscorea bulbifera L. yielded two new norclerodane diterpenoids, diosbulbin N acetate (1) and epi-diosbulbin B (3), together with eleven known compounds. Their structures were established based on spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of 1 and diosbulbin B (2) were determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis using Cu Kα radiation. The absolute configuration of 3 was determined by comparison of its ECD spectrum to that of 2. Isolated phenanthrenes 7, 9 and 10 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against the HelaS3 cell line with IC50 values of 9.03 ± 0.04, 27.13 ± 6.86 and 10.88 ± 2.75 µM, respectively. In addition, 7-9 and 11 showed potent inhibition of NO production by LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thailand is globally recognized for its rich biodiversity, a characteristic that extends to the diverse species of indigenous yams within the Dioscorea spp. genus. With the energy crisis, the selection of agricultural materials for ethanol production to replace the use of economic crops is therefore necessary. This research focuses on six specific yam varieties: Amorphophallus konjac, Colocasia esculenta, Dioscorea bulbifera, Dioscorea alata, Dioscorea hispida, and Dioscorea esculenta. The primary objective is to investigate their bioethanol productivity through the implementation of a separate hydrolysis and fermentation process, with the broader aim of contributing to the potential preservation of these invaluable indigenous yam species. Initiating the study, the experimental samples underwent hydrolysis by alpha-amylase enzyme (1% w/winitial starch) for 180 min, followed by glucoamylase enzyme (1% w/winitial starch) for an additional 72 h. Post the initial hydrolysis, the detection of small molecule sugars by high-performance liquid chromatography, revealed a range of 14.49 ± 1.10 to 28.89 ± 0.03 gtotal sugar/L, with maltose emerging as the predominant sugar compound. Subsequent to the second hydrolysis, it was observed that maltose and starch residues across all six samples underwent successful digestion. The peak glucose productivity was attained at the 12-h mark post-glucoamylase hydrolysis. Among the diverse yam varieties under examination, Dioscorea hispida exhibited the highest glucose production, showcasing a hydrolysis efficiency of 62.53 ± 2.08%. Following the fermentation process with S. cerevisiae, the optimal fermentation time was identified as 72 h, at which point all available glucose in the hydrolysate was fully utilized. The bioethanol productivity spanned from 32.31 ± 3.40 to 43.66 ± 0.02 g/L, with Dioscorea hispida demonstrating the highest ethanol productivity at 0.61 ± 0.00 g/L/h, and a yield of 0.42 ± 0.01gEtOH/gGlucose. These findings underscore the potential of Dioscorea hispida as a promising contributor to bioethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam (Dioscorea sp.) is an important staple crop for millions of smallholder farmers in West Africa. In this study, we aimed to develop an efficient indirect plant regeneration system for three important yam genotypes "Kukrupa," "Mankrong Pona" and "Matches." The potential of leaf primordia, petioles and axillary bud explants for callus induction on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations (0, 3, 5, 7 and 9 mg/l) of 2,4-dicholorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) or picloram were tested. Callus induction was influenced by auxin concentration as well as explant. The highest callus induction was achieved using leaf primordia ("Kukrupa" and "Mankrong Pona") explants on 3 mg/l picloram or axillary buds ("Matches") on 5 mg/l picloram. Transfer of callus to 6-benzylaminoapurine (BAP) amended medium resulted in the formation of at least two shoots per callus clump. Plantlets were obtained on basic yam medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/l 1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 3 mg/l kinetin and 0.5 mg/l BAP after four weeks. Post acclimatization plantlet survival was high (75 − 82.5%). The indirect plant regeneration protocol reported through this study helps in the improvement of important yam genotypes through tissue culture-oriented genome editing, in vitro mutagenesis and also for its mass propagation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study was to create gluten‐free chiffon cakes by replacing wheat flour with rice flour (100%, 90% and 70% w/w) and adding yam (0%–30%). The effect of yam's water‐soluble fibre on cake batter properties was studied, including batter density, specific volume, colour, texture, moisture content, water activity and volatile compounds. Results revealed that yam addition decreased crumb lightness value, crust brown index and batter density. Batter viscosity and cake specific volume increased with yam levels, with the optimal amount being 10%. Specific volume decreased at a yam addition of 30%. Twenty‐four compounds were identified in gluten‐free chiffon cake with 10% yam addition (10Y). 1‐Octen‐3‐ol was the primary contributor, accounting for 89.9% odour activity value (OAV) of the aroma with a fruity, buttery, and mushroom odour, attributed to its low threshold. In addition, aldehyde compounds including hexanal, 3‐methylbutanal, 2‐methylbutanal, pentanal, 2‐methylpropanal, nonanal, octanal and heptanal, accounting for 9% of OAV, had high perception thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Dioscorea opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun maturity (DM) is an important factor influencing its quality. However, there are few studies on the impact of harvest time on its maturation. In the present study, a NMR‐based metabolomics approach was applied to investigate the dynamic metabolic changes of D. opposita Thunb. cv. Tiegun at six different harvest stages: stage 1 (S1), stage 2 (S2), Stage 3 (S3), stage 4 (S4), stage 5 (S5) and stage 6 (S6). RESULTS: Principal component analysis showed distinct segregation of samples obtained from S1, S2 and S3 compared to those derived from S4, S5 and S6. Interestingly, these samples from the two periods were obtained before and after frost, indicating that frost descent might be important for DM. Eight differential metabolites responsible for good separation of different groups were identified by the principal component analysis loading plot and partial least squares‐discriminant analysis. In addition, quantitative analysis of these metabolites using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry determined the effects of harvest time on these metabolite contents, two of which, sucrose and allantoin, were considered as potential biomarkers to determine DM. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that NMR‐based metabolomics approach could serve as a powerful tool to identify differential metabolites during harvesting processes, also offering a fresh insight into understanding the DM and the potential mechanism of quality formation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flour quality in the form of physicochemical and sensory properties is an essential parameter that will influence the design, process, and results of the processing of gembili flour derivative products. This study aims to evaluate flour's physical and chemical properties from white-fleshed gembili tubers (Yawal Porei) and purplishwhite-fleshed gembili tubers (Thai) and determine consumer preferences for the flour produced. The physical properties of gembili flour were analyzed, including yield, whiteness, and fineness modulus (FM). Meanwhile, the chemical composition of the flour analyzed includes moisture content, carbohydrates, protein, ash content and crude fibre. 35 untrained panellists were used in organoleptic tests to assess consumer preferences. The results show that the two gembili tubers produce flour with different physical and chemical properties. White-fleshed gembili flour has several advantages in terms of physical and chemical properties, namely yield (15.62% ± 0.41), whiteness (79.55 ± 0.98), carbohydrates (82.86% ± 0.21) and crude fibre (5.28% ± 0.61) which has the potential as a rice analogue, noodles, cake, fillers, and cookies. Meanwhile, purplish-white-fleshed gembili flour has a high protein content (5.40% ± 0.16) and ash content (6.75% ± 0.05), which has the potential as a bakery product. The FM of the two types of gembili flour was not much different and has a moisture content that meets the Indonesian National Standard, below 14.5%. The sensory assessment showed that the panellists preferred white-fleshed gembili flour to purplish-whitefleshed gembili flour. The sensory assessment showed that the panellists preferred white-fleshed gembili flour to purplish-white-fleshed gembili flour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) is an important tree species in agroforestry systems in West Africa and shea nuts constitute a fundamental resource for rural livelihoods in this area. This study investigated the sustainability and interactions in agroforestry systems of shea trees around the village Nakpalli in Northern Ghana. The focus of the study was the population structures and densities of shea trees on different land types, below-canopy microclimate and co-cultivation of yams (Dioscorea rotundata (Poir.) J. Miége) under shea tree canopies, and water stress of the trees in the driest season. Shea tree populations are overall well-conserved in this area, but Weibull-distributions of the tree populations and quantification of seedlings showed a lower tree density in both cultivated and fallowed lands, as compared to undisturbed bushlands. Although farmers may deliberately manage the density of larger trees, the low densities of seedlings and saplings indicate that intensified management practices, including shortened fallow periods and intentional clearing of land by fire before sowing, might negatively affect the long-term regeneration of the shea trees. Co-cultivation of yams below shea tree canopies allowed production of 11.5 t/ha as compared to 20.8 t/ha at open field conditions. The lower yields may have been caused by an almost 74% reduction of photosynthetically active radiation below canopies, relative to outside the canopies. Shea trees in the fields, fallows and bushlands had close-to-zero predawn leaf water potentials, indicating low water stress, even in the middle of the dry season. Thus, shea trees are both well-adapted and highly valued in this area, which underlines the importance of conserving this indigenous tree species in the agroforestry systems of northern Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White Guinea yam is a tuber crop characterized by a long growth period over the entire rainy season, which is affected by changes in rainfall patterns owing to climate change. In this study, we investigated the effects of shifting the planting date of yam seed tubers on shoot growth and tuber development, which could be a plausible measure for adapting to changes in rainfall patterns. Our results revealed that tuber enlargement in plants with different planting dates started depending on the days after planting rather than the day of the year. This indicates that day length had little effect on tuberization. The final tuber yield was rarely affected by low rainfall during the early growth stage, whereas severe yield reduction occurred when the rainfall stopped during the tuberization period. We conclude that shifting the planting date backward to adjust for delayed rainy seasons increases the risk of severe yield reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research introduces a pioneering methodology and user-friendly online dashboard for examining population shifts during urban redevelopment in Bat Yam, Israel, part of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area. The simulation tool, operated through scripts, predicts how redevelopment scenarios will impact household demographics over time. Its output is a population track-change CSV file detailing demographic changes. The accompanying online dashboard visually presents these changes, making the data accessible to policymakers and planners. The tool's consideration of environmental factors enhances its applicability in identifying vulnerable populations and resilient communities amidst urban renewal. This userfriendly approach, compatible with existing planning tools, underscores the article's significance in advancing urban planning practice and addressing societal needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice analogue of banggai yam (dioscorea alata) is made with the formula of banggai yam flour, mocaf flour and cornstarch in a ratio of 55:30:15. Furthermore, Banggai Yam's Analog rice (Dioscorea Alata) was given to respondents with prediabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of consumption of rice analogues of yam banggai on glucose levels of prediabetics. The research location is in Banggai Islands Regency. The number of respondents was 120 people and the intervention time was 2 weeks. The results showed that fasting blood sugar levels on pre and day 7 in both groups had differences or there was a decrease in fasting blood sugar levels with p values of <0.001 each. The greatest change was shown in the intervention/rice analog group with a difference of 24.55. While in the control group only amounted to 8,483. Reduction in Fasting Blood Sugar Levels on pre and day 14 p values of <0.001 each. The greatest change was shown in the intervention/rice analog group with a difference of 29.817. While the decrease in fasting blood sugar levels in the control group was 17,167. Comparison of day 7 and day 14, the two groups had differences or there was a decrease in fasting blood sugar levels with a p value of <0.001 each. Greater changes were shown in the control/brown rice group with a difference of 8.683. While the decrease in fasting blood sugar levels in the intervention group was 5,267. Thus, rice analogue of Banggai yam (dioscorea alata) as local food has a significant influence on reducing blood sugar levels of prediabetes mellitus sufferers in Banggai Islands district. The use of rice analogues of Banggai Yams (Dioscorea Alata) can be developed as functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dioscorea bulbifera L. is well known for its diverse chemical composition and medicinal applications. • This systemic review covers the ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacological importance and toxicity of D. bulbifera L. • Various clinical studies included in this review validate the folk usage of this herb. • The findings presented herein provide a stepping stone for future investigations into the mechanism of action of the formulations or metabolites derived from it and delve into their potential as pharmaceutical agents. Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreaceae) is extensively being used in African, Chinese and Indian traditional medicinal systems since ages. It is an ingredient in many herbal and Ayurvedic preparations that are used against various ailments. The current study is aimed to systematically review and document findings on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, nutritive value and toxicity of the herb. The study is intended to overcome the inconsistency between the traditional and pharmacological applications of the herb concerning its folkloric use and offer novel insights for future researchers. The literature was systematically collected from various offline and online sources using relevant keywords. Electronic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Online, Research Gate, Scopus etc. were used to retrieve the relevant information. D. bulbifera L. is widespread in tropical and temperate regions of Asia, Africa and America. In traditional medicinal systems, it is used widely to cure sore throat, skin diseases, ulcers, boils, piles, pain, inflammation, dog bites, snake bites, food poisoning, asthma, cough, tuberculosis, cold, jaundice, malaria, typhoid of children, contraceptives, diabetes, ophthalmia, pink eye conjunctivitis etc. Among bioactive constituents, aglycone types of steroidal saponins dioscorin(e), dioscin(e), diosbulbin, and diosgenin possess significant biological activities. The chemical structures of the phytoconstituents presented in this review are drawn using ChemDraw Ultra software. The clinical studies included in this review have been performed to validate the folk usage of this herb. However, more studies are required to be done on scientific and clinical aspects to support its therapeutic applications. The updated information provided in this systematic review would open new perspectives for performing in-depth analysis of pharmacological research in future. The study would be useful for improving the clinical use of the herb and is surely going to bridge a gap between the traditional and modern use of scientific research for future researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important tuber crop consumed globally. However, stable yam production faces challenges from a variety of diseases caused by fungi, nematodes, viruses, and bacteria. Prominent diseases such as anthracnose, leaf spot, yam wilt, dry rot, and crazy root syndrome, currently pose serious threats to yam yields. These diseases not only result in quality degradation but also cause great economic losses. This review summarizes the damages, symptoms, causal agents, and epidemic factors of major yam diseases. It also outlines a comprehensive disease control strategy that includes the use of resistant varieties, proper crop rotation, sanitation measures, and the application of agrochemicals and biocontrol agents. Additionally, this review addresses future perspectives on risk factors and knowledge gaps, aiming to serve as a reference for in-depth research into advanced disease monitoring and control technologies for yams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring genetic gain is crucial to ensure breeding programs' effectiveness and identify potential challenges and areas for their improvement. Our study provides a first overview of the trends in genetic gain for tuber yield and disease resistance traits in the IITA's (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) yam breeding program. We used historical data (2010–2022) from multiple generations of past breeding cycles evaluated at 31 sites in the white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir) breeding pipeline and 28 sites in the water yam (Dioscorea alata L.) breeding pipeline of IITA and its national partners in West Africa. Our result shows positive genetic trends in fresh tuber yield while recording a gain of 1.38% or 99.17 kg ha−1 per year in the white Guinea yam and 2.18% or 252.41 kg ha−1 per year in the water yam breeding pipelines. Genetic trends for virus and anthracnose resistance were in the desired direction but negligible in white Guinea yam, while significant for virus and nonsignificant for anthracnose resistance in water yam. Our findings indicate that while the breeding program has succeeded in enhancing tuber yield, post‐harvest tuber dry matter content and disease resistance (yam mosaic virus and anthracnose) did not follow a similar trend in the material being developed. This implies that the yam breeding program needs to strike a balance between various traits, ensuring that increased yield does not come at a cost to food quality or disease resistance. Our results highlight the importance of continually monitoring and assessing the performance of a breeding program and making informed decisions about which traits to focus on for future improvement. Core Ideas: Periodic monitoring of genetic gain is crucial to making informed decisions about which traits to focus on.Yam breeding program needs to strike a balance between various traits for ensuring sustained genetic gain.High‐quality historical trial data crucial for assessing genetic gain trends in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural fibers instead of synthetic fibers has become a hot topic in the reinforced composite manufacturing industry. However, there are considerable differences in the mechanical properties of natural fibers cited in the literature. These differences could be due to the prevalent use of monothetic analysis. In this paper, the use of a simplified Taguchi technique in novel Dioscorea alata stems fiber processing is proposed to allow for simultaneous evaluation of control parameters such as treatment type, harvest condition, gauge length and chemical treatment temperature to determine the optimal conditions for fiber tensile properties. These fibers were extracted from the stem by means of water retting method before chemical treatment. The tensile properties were determined as per ASTM D3822/D3822M-14. Non-destructive examinations were employed to look into the chemical make-up, thermal, crystalline and morphological characteristics of the fibers. The test results showed an optimum tensile strength of 151 MPa and tensile modulus of 5709.5 MPa. Density was 0.4 g/cm3 while cellulose, lignin, moisture, hemicellulose and ash contents were 13.1 %, 10.3 %, 9.7 %, 5.0 % and 8.2 % respectively. The treated fibers were thermally stable till 320 °C. The properties of Dioscorea alata stem fiber (DASF) were found to be promising when compared to existing natural fibers, making it a viable candidate for composite material reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roots, tubers and cooking bananas are bulky and highly perishable. In Africa, except for yams, their consumption is mainly after transport, peeling and cooking in the form of boiled pieces or dough, a few days after harvest. To stabilize and better preserve the products and, in the case of cassava, release toxic cyanogenic glucosides, a range of intermediate products have been developed, mainly for cassava, related to fermentation and drying after numerous processing operations. This review highlights, for the first time, the impact of genotypes on labour requirements, productivity and the associated drudgery in processing operations primarily carried out by women processors. Peeling, soaking/grinding/fermentation, dewatering, sieving and toasting steps were evaluated on a wide range of new hybrids and traditional landraces. The review highlights case studies of gari production from cassava. The results show that, depending on the genotypes used, women's required labour can be more than doubled and even the sum of the weights transported along the process can be up to four times higher for the same quantity of end product. Productivity and loads carried between each processing operation are highly influenced by root shape, ease of peeling, dry matter content and/or fiber content. Productivity and the often related experienced drudgery are key factors to be considered for a better acceptance of new genotypes by actors in the value‐addition chain, leading to enhanced adoption and ultimately to improved livelihoods for women processors. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Yam is a major staple food that provides both energy (starch) and bioactive compounds. However, there is a lack of knowledge on its cooking quality. We have determined the cooking quality of five varieties of water yam (among those most appreciated by consumers), when they were steamed or boiled. The yams were grown in two contrasting locations with regard to pedoclimatic conditions. RESULTS: Ratio of length to mean circumference of the tuber, difficulty to peel, cooking time, color attributes, hardness of steamed pulp, and dry matter (DM) and starch contents significantly varied among varieties. Cooking time and hardness of the cooked pulp, either steamed or boiled, were higher for tubers grown at the drier location, with vertisols, than at the rainy one, with a ferralitic soil. The raw pulp was richer in starch at the rainy location. We found no correlation between either textural properties or DM and the cooking time. A slight (r = 0.44) but significant correlation was recorded between the DM of the raw pulp and the hardness of the steamed product. CONCLUSION: We propose a comprehensive multicriteria approach for determination of yam cooking quality, textural properties, color attributes and chemical composition, along with varietal and environmental influences. This approach takes into consideration the complexity of food quality, allows a better understanding of its determinants and provides a basis for useful guidelines for breeders. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Roots, tubers and bananas (RTB) play an essential role as staple foods, particularly in Africa. Consumer acceptance for RTB products relies strongly on the functional properties of, which may be affected by the size and shape of its granules. Classically, these are characterized either using manual measurements on microscopic photographs of starch colored with iodine, or using a laser light‐scattering granulometer (LLSG). While the former is tedious and only allows the analysis of a small number of granules, the latter only provides limited information on the shape of the starch granule. RESULTS: In this study, an open‐source solution was developed allowing the automated measurement of the characteristic parameters of the size and shape of yam starch granules by applying thresholding and object identification on microscopic photographs. A random forest (RF) model was used to predict the starch granule shape class. This analysis pipeline was successfully applied to a yam diversity panel of 47 genotypes, leading to the characterization of more than 205 000 starch granules. Comparison between the classical and automated method shows a very strong correlation (R2 = 0.99) and an absence of bias for granule size. The RF model predicted shape class with an accuracy of 83%. With heritability equal to 0.85, the median projected area of the granules varied from 381 to 1115 μm2 and their observed shapes were ellipsoidal, polyhedral, round and triangular. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in this study show that the proposed open‐source pipeline offers an accurate, robust and discriminating solution for medium‐throughput phenotyping of yam starch granule size distribution and shape classification. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yam (Dioscorea alata L.) is the staple food of many populations in the intertropical zone, where it is grown. The lack of phenotyping methods for tuber quality has hindered the adoption of new genotypes from breeding programs. Recently, near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used as a reliable tool to characterize the chemical composition of the yam tuber. However, it failed to predict the amylose content, although this trait is strongly involved in the quality of the product. Results: This study used NIRS to predict the amylose content from 186 yam flour samples. Two calibration methods were developed and validated on an independent dataset: partial least squares (PLS) and convolutional neural networks (CNN). To evaluate final model performances, the coefficient of determination (R2), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) were calculated using predictions on an independent validation dataset. The tested models showed contrasting performances (i.e., R2 of 0.72 and 0.89, RMSE of 1.33 and 0.81, RPD of 2.13 and 3.49 respectively, for the PLS and the CNN model). Conclusion: According to the quality standard for NIRS model prediction used in food science, the PLS method proved unsuccessful (RPD < 3 and R2 < 0.8) for predicting amylose content from yam flour but the CNN model proved to be reliable and efficient method. With the application of deep learning methods, this study established the proof of concept that amylose content, a key driver of yam textural quality and acceptance, can be predicted accurately using NIRS as a high throughput phenotyping method. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Assessment of the key preferred quality traits in pounded yam, a popularly consumed yam food product in West Africa, is often done through sensory evaluation. Such assessment is time‐consuming and results may be biased. Therefore, there is a need to develop objective, high‐throughput methods to predict the quality of consumer‐preferred traits in pounded yam. This study focused on how key quality traits in pounded yam proposed to yam breeders were determined, measured by biophysical and biochemical methods, in order to shorten the breeding selection cycle through adoption of these methods by breeders. RESULTS: Consumer tests and sensory quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) validated that preferred priority quality traits in pounded yam were related to textural quality (smooth, stretchable, moldable, slightly sticky and moderately hard) and color (white, cream or light yellow). There were significant correlations between sensory textural quality attributes cohesiveness/moldability, hardness, and adhesiveness/stickiness, with textural quality measurements from instrumental texture profile analysis (TPA). Color measurement parameters (L*, a*, and b*) with chromameter agreed with that of sensory evaluation and can replace the sensory panel approach. The smoothness (R2 = 1.00), stickiness (R2 = 1.00), stretchability (R2 = 1.00), hardness (R2 = 0.99), and moldability (R2 = 0.53) of pounded yam samples can be predicted by the starch, amylose, and protein contents of yam tubers estimated by near‐infrared spectroscopy. CONCLUSION: TPA and Hunter colorimeter can be used as medium‐high throughput methods to evaluate the textural quality and color of pounded yam in place of the sensory panelists. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Starch, dry matter content (DMC), proteins, and sugars are among the major influences on yam tuber quality. Genetic improvement programs need simple, rapid, and low‐cost tools to screen large populations. The objectives of this work were, using a quantitative trait loci mapping approach (QTL) on two diploid full‐sib segregating populations, (i) to acquire knowledge about the genetic control of these traits; (ii) to identify markers linked to the genomic regions controlling each trait, which are useful for marker‐assisted selection (MAS); (iii) to validate the QTLs on a diversity panel; and (iv) to identify candidate genes from the validated QTLs. RESULTS: Heritability for all traits was moderately high to high. Significant correlations were observed between traits. A total of 25 QTLs were identified, including six for DMC, six for sugars, six for proteins, and seven for starch. The phenotypic variance explained by individual QTLs ranged from 14.3% to 28.6%. The majority of QTLs were validated on a diversity panel, showing that they are not specific to the genetic background of the progenitors. The approximate physical location of validated QTLs allowed the identification of candidate genes for all studied traits. Those detected for starch content were mainly enzymes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, whereas those detected for sugars were mainly involved in respiration and glycolysis. CONCLUSION: The validated QTLs will be useful for breeding programs using MAS to improve the quality of yam tubers. The putative genes should be useful in providing a better understanding of the physiological and molecular basis of these important tuber quality traits. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Food quality traits related to the genetics of yam influence the acceptability for its consumption. This study aimed at identifying genetic factors underlying sensory and textural quality attributes of boiled and pounded yam, the two dominant food products from white Guinea yam. RESULTS: A genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of a panel of 184 genotypes derived from five multi‐parent crosses population was conducted. The panel was phenotyped for the qualities of boiled and pounded yam using sensory quality and instrument‐based textural profile assays. The genotypes displayed significant variation for most of the attributes. Population differentiation and structure analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) and population structure‐based Bayesian information criteria revealed the presence of four well‐defined clusters. The GWAS results from a multi‐random mixed linear model with kinship and PCA used as covariate identified 13 single‐nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers significantly associated with the boiled and pounded yam food qualities. The associated SNP markers explained 7.51–13.04% of the total phenotypic variance with a limit of detection exceeding 4. CONCLUSION: Regions on chromosomes 7 and 15 were found to be associated with boiled and pounded yam quality attributes from sensory and instrument‐based assays. Gene annotation analysis for the regions of associated SNPs revealed co‐localization of several known putative genes involved in glucose export, hydrolysis and glycerol metabolism. Our study is one of the first reports of genetic factors underlying the boiled and pounded yam food quality to pave the way for marker‐assisted selection in white Guinea yam. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Consumers' preferences for food crops are guided by quality attributes. This study aimed at deciphering the genetic basis of quality traits, especially tuber flesh color (FC) and oxidative browning (OB) in Dioscorea alata, based on the genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) approach. The D. alata panel was planted at two locations in Guadeloupe. At harvest, the FC was scored visually as white, cream, or purple on longitudinally sliced mature tubers. The OB was scored visually as the presence or absence of browning after 15 min of exposure of the sliced samples to ambient air. RESULTS: Phenotypic characterization for FC and OB of a diverse panel of D. alata genotypes highlighted significant variation within the panel and across two locations. The genotypes within the panel displayed a weak structure and could be classified into three subpopulations. GWAS identified 14 and 4 significant associations for tuber FC and OB, respectively, with phenotypic variance, explained values ranging from 7.18% to 18.04%. Allele segregation analysis at the significantly associated loci highlighted the favorable alleles for the desired traits, i.e., white FC and no OB. A total of 24 putative candidate genes were identified around the significant signals. A comparative analysis with previously reported quantitative trait loci indicated that numerous genomic regions control these traits in D. alata. CONCLUSION: Our study provides important insights into the genetic control of tuber FC and OB in D. alata. The major and stable loci can be further utilized to improve selection in breeding programs for developing new cultivars with enhanced tuber quality. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most rheological analyses in yam have been done on starch gels, which requires starch extraction from the tubers. In situ rheology bypasses the need of starch extraction and relies on the original cell structure and complex matrix organization under stress or strain. Dynamic rheological properties of tuber from 16 accessions belonging to four yam species (Dioscorea rotundata, D. alata. D. bulbifera and D. dumetorum) were investigated for potential use as a medium throughput phenotyping screening tool that can indicate the quality of yam food products or their industrial potentials. Results: Rheographs of the tubers illustrated differences in the structure of D. bulbifera compared to other yam species. High initial storage modulus (G′) of yam parenchyma indicated tubers with strong and rigid structure which do not lose their structural integrity easily on heating. Dioscorea rotundata and D. alata varieties exhibited a lower temperature at which gelatinization took place (Tgel) equivalent to the irreversible transition during starch gelatinization (75.3 and 79.8 °C) and took shorter time (867 and 958 s, respectively) to reach the G′ maximum, compared to other species. The stress relaxation test showed that the higher the dry matter of the tubers, the higher the work to rupture the structure. Conclusion: Rheological characteristics G′, loss modulus (G″), swelling capacity and Tgel showed potential as suitable quality indicators for yam products. In situ rheological characterization of yam tubers could be used as an instrumental screening tool to phenotype for quality in yam products. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stretchability is the most important sensory textural attribute considered by consumers of pounded yam. It is important both for the processor during pounding and for the consumer during consumption to measure this attribute while screening large populations of yam genotypes intended for advanced breeding and eventual adoption. Texture determined by sensory evaluation and consumer perception is time consuming and expensive. It can be instrumentally mimicked by texture analyzer, thereby providing an efficient alternative screening tool. Results: Two instrumental methods (uniaxial extensibility and lubricated squeezing flow) were applied to assess the extensional properties of pounded yam. In order to evaluate the accuracy, repeatability and discrimination of the methods, six yam genotypes with contrasting extensional properties, previously evaluated by 13 panellists in terms of stretchability and moldability and by 99 participants randomly selected in terms of overall liking, were used. Both methods allowed the discrimination of different genotypes as a function of extensional properties. Principal components showed that the genotypes were grouped within separate components associated with specific sensory attributes and their related instrumental texture parameters. Moreover, significant correlations were found between uniaxial extensibility textural attributes, bi‐extensional viscosity and consumer overall liking. However, the sensory attributes were not significantly correlated with instrumental data and consumer overall liking. Conclusion: Bi‐extensional viscosity and uniaxial extensibility attributes can be used to discriminate and screen yam genotypes for their stretchability characteristics. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Boiled yam key quality attributes typical for West African consumers are that it is crumbly, easy to break and has a sweet taste. New yam varieties are being developed but high‐ or medium‐throughput tools to assess the required quality traits and their range of acceptance are limited. This study assessed the acceptance thresholds of these quality attributes and established predictive models for screening yam varieties that meet the required consumer preferences. RESULTS: Overall liking was associated with sweet taste, crumbliness and easiness to break (r‐values 0.502, 0.291 and −0.087, respectively). These parameters and selected biophysical parameters highly discriminated the boiled yam varieties. Crumbly texture and easiness to break were well predicted by penetration force and dry matter, whereas sweet taste were well predicted by dry matter and sugar intensity. A high crumbliness and sweet taste are preferred (sensory scores above 6.19 and 6.22 for crumbly and sweet taste, respectively, on a 10 cm unstructured line scale), while a too high easiness to break is disliked (sensory scores ranging from 4.72 to 7.62). Desirable biophysical targets were between 5.1 and 7.1 N for penetration force, dry matter around 39% and sugar intensity below 3.62 g 100 g−1. Some improved varieties fulfilled the acceptable thresholds, and screening was improved through deviation from the optimum. CONCLUSION: Acceptance thresholds and deviation from optimum for boiled yam assessed through the instrumental measurements are promising tools for yam breeders. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diosgenin is an important steroidal precursor renowned for its diverse medicinal uses. It is predominantly sourced from Dioscorea species, particularly Dioscorea zingiberensis. Dioscorea zingiberensis has an ability to accumulate 2–16% diosgenin in its rhizomes. In this study, a diverse population of 180 D. zingiberensis accessions was used to evaluate the genomic regions associated with diosgenin biosynthesis by the genome wide association study approach (GWAS). Results: The whole population was characterized for diosgenin contents from tubers by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The individuals were genotyped by the genotyping-by-sequencing approach and 10,000 high-quality SNP markers were extracted for the GWAS. The highest significant marker-trait-association was observed as an SNP transversion (G to T) on chromosome 10, with 64% phenotypic variance explained. The SNP was located in the promoter region of CYP94D144 which is a member of P450 gene family involved in the independent biosynthesis of diosgenin from cholesterol. The transcription factor (TF) binding site enrichment analysis of the promoter region of CYP94D144 revealed NAC TF as a potential regulator. The results were further validated through expression profiling by qRT-PCR, and the comparison of high and low diosgenin producing hybrids obtained from a bi-parental population. Conclusions: This study not only enhanced the understanding of the genetic basis of diosgenin biosynthesis but also serves as a valuable reference for future genomic investigations on CYP94D144, with the aim of augmenting diosgenin production in yam tubers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amylose, a prebiotic found in yams is known to be beneficial for the gut microflora and is particularly advantageous for diabetic patients' diet. However, the genetic machinery underlying amylose production remains elusive. A comprehensive characterization of the genetic basis of amylose content in yam tubers is a prerequisite for accelerating the genetic engineering of yams with respect to amylose content variation. Results: To uncover the genetic variants underlying variation in amylose content, we evaluated amylose content in freshly harvested tubers from 150 accessions of Dioscorea zingibensis. With 30,000 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), we performed a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS). The population structure analysis classified the D. zingiberensis accessions into three groups. A total of 115 significant loci were detected on four chromosomes. Of these, 112 significant SNPs (log10(p) = 5, q-value < 0.004) were clustered in a narrow window on the chromosome 6 (chr6). The peak SNP at the position 75,609,202 on chr6 could explain 63.15% of amylose variation in the population and fell into the first exon of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) small subunit gene, causing a non-synonymous modification of the resulting protein sequence. Allele segregation analysis showed that accessions with the rare G allele had a higher amylose content than those harboring the common A allele. However, AGPase, a key enzyme precursor of amylose biosynthesis, was not expressed differentially between accessions with A and G alleles. Overexpression of the two variants of AGPase in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in a significantly higher amylose content in lines transformed with the AGPase-G allele. Conclusions: Overall, this study showed that a major genetic variant in AGPase probably enhances the enzyme activity leading to high amylose content in D. zingiberensis tuber. The results provide valuable insights for the development of amylose-enriched genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yam is a versatile crop and plays a vital role in tropical regions, where it can be transformed into various food products. Peeling is an essential step in the processing of yam, as it increases its value. While manual peeling with knives is common in households, larger-scale production requires the use of yam peeling machines. The objective of this study was to analyze and enhance the performance of an existing yam peeling machine. The key components of the machine include the machine frame, a wire mesh-like drum, a speed reduction gear motor, a pumping machine, sprockets, pipes, and a water container. The yam peeler is powered by a three-phase 2 hp electric motor. The machine was tested on three different types of yams with varying moisture contents and at different speeds. Various performance parameters such as peeling efficiency, peeling capacity, flesh loss, and time efficiency were evaluated. Statistical analysis and SPSS models were utilized to examine the relationship between different factors and the performance metrics of the machine. The study revealed that as the peeling speed increased, the efficiency decreased. The peeling efficiency ranged from 63.27% to 92.74%, peeling capacity ranged from 2.28 kg/h to 11.34 kg/h, and flesh loss varied from 7.26% to 36.73%. The moisture content of the yams, peeling speeds, and tuber morphology were found to have significant effects on peeling efficiency, flesh loss, peeling capacity, and time efficiency. The yam peeler production cost is estimated to be $150. The machine demonstrated suitability for small-scale food industries due to its low cost and minimal maintenance requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Michel Talagrand from CNRS in Paris is awarded the Abel Prize 2024 for his work in probability theory and stochastic processes. The prize was awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and includes a cash prize of 7.5 million Norwegian Kroner. The YAM Network Germany is a collaboration between German excellence clusters and AIMS to provide talented AIMS graduates with the opportunity to study and research in Germany. The network organizes regular events and strengthens the community of YAM scholars. [Extracted from the article]

• This study investigates the differences in nutritional values and diosgenin content between lesser yams cultivated in a sub-tropical climate (Okinawa) and those cultivated in a cold region (northern Kyoto) within a plastic greenhouse. • Most of the analyzed nutritional ingredients demonstrated comparable values between plants cultivated in the sub-tropical region and within the plastic greenhouse in the cold region. The diosgenin content was 0.12 g/100 g for tubers cultivated in the sub-tropical region and 0.1 g/100 g for those cultivated in the cold region within a plastic greenhouse. • Nutritional ingredients and diosgenin contents were comparable between the two growing conditions. Dioscorea esculenta can be cultivated in sub-tropical regions and in cold regions within plastic greenhouses. The lesser yam (Dioscorea esculenta) is a phytochemical tuber that contains substantial amounts of diosgenin. Dioscorea esculenta is normally cultivated in tropical/sub-tropical regions such as African countries, and Okinawa in Japan. However, it remains unknown whether it can be successfully cultivated in cold regions within a plastic greenhouse. This study investigated the differences in nutritional values and diosgenin content between lesser yams cultivated in a sub-tropical climate (Okinawa) and those cultivated in a cold region (northern Kyoto) within a plastic greenhouse. The tubers were planted in March 2021 and harvested in January 2022. The temperature of the plastic greenhouse was 25.6 °C throughout the cultivation period. Additionally, the soil properties were potting soil with 8 % nitrogen potassium phosphate. Samples of dioscorea esculenta from both regions were used to produce 1 kg of sliced tubers from six tubers, were dried with the peel, then pulverized. The diosgenin content was analyzed for each sample, and nutritional ingredients such as moisture, carbohydrates, protein, fat, ash, sodium, and energy were measured. Most of the analyzed nutritional ingredients demonstrated comparable values between plants cultivated in the sub-tropical region and within the plastic greenhouse in the cold region. The diosgenin content was 0.12 g/100 g for tubers cultivated in the sub-tropical region and 0.1 g/100 g for those cultivated in the cold region within a plastic greenhouse. Nutritional ingredients and diosgenin contents were comparable between the two growing conditions. Dioscorea esculenta can be cultivated in sub-tropical regions and in cold regions within plastic greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endophytic fungus Berkleasmium sp. Dzf12 that was isolated from Dioscorea zingiberensis, is a proficient producer of palmarumycins, which are intriguing polyketides of the spirobisnaphthalene class. These compounds displayed a wide range of bioactivities, including antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities. However, conventional genetic manipulation of Berkleasmium sp. Dzf12 is difficult and inefficient, partially due to the slow-growing, non-sporulating, and highly pigmented behavior of this fungus. Herein, we developed a CRISPR/Cas9 system suitable for gene editing in Berkleasmium sp. Dzf12. The protoplast preparation was optimized, and the expression of Cas9 in Berkleasmium sp. Dzf12 was validated. To assess the gene disruption efficiency, a putative 1, 3, 6, 8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene synthase encoding gene, bdpks, involved in 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin biosynthesis, was selected as the target for gene disruption. Various endogenous sgRNA promoters were tested, and different strategies to express sgRNA were compared, resulting in the construction of an optimal system using the U6 snRNA-1 promoter as the sgRNA promoter. Successful disruption of bdpks led to a complete abolishment of the production of spirobisnaphthalenes and melanin. This work establishes a useful gene targeting disruption system for exploration of gene functions in Berkleasmium sp. Dzf12, and also provides an example for developing an efficient CRISPR/Cas9 system to the fungi that are difficult to manipulate using conventional genetic tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explored the protective effect and mechanism of Chinese yam total protein in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with high-concentration D-glucose (HG)-induced oxidative stress injury. The HUVECs injury model was established by 50 mmol/L HG. HUVECs were randomly divided into control, model, low-dose Chinese yam total protein (0.5 mg/mL), and high-dose Chinese yam total protein (1 mg/mL) groups. The effects of Chinese yam total protein on the viability, morphology, and angiogenetic ability of HUVECs treated with HG were evaluated. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in cells were determined. The nitric oxide (NO), 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in culture medium supernatant were measured. Protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), thioredoxin-interacting protein (Txnip), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cleaved Caspase-1, and IL-1β were determined. The results showed that Chinese yam total protein could significantly increased the cell viability of HUVECs treated with HG (P<0.01), improved cell apoptotic morphology, and significantly increased the activities of SOD and CAT (P<0.05, P<0.01) and ratio of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2/Bax), angiogenetic ability and nitric oxide (NO) secretion. Moreover, Chinese yam total protein significantly decreased the levels of ROS, MDA, 8-OHdG, IL-1β, and IL-6 (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the expression levels of inflammation-related proteins (Txnip, NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1, and IL-1β) (P<0.05, P<0.01). Changes in these indicators showed a significant concentration-dependent manner. The results indicate that Chinese yam total protein may protect against HG-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting the Txnip/NLRP3 signaling pathway, restoring the oxidative balance, and reducing the inflammatory response of HUVECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the maximum principle of mean field type control problems when the volatility function depends on the state and its measure and also the control, by using our recently developed method in [Bensoussan, A., Huang, Z. and Yam, S. C. P. [2023] Control theory on Wasserstein space: A new approach to optimality conditions, Ann. Math. Sci. Appl.; Bensoussan, A., Tai, H. M. and Yam, S. C. P. [2023] Mean field type control problems, some Hilbert-space-valued FBSDEs, and related equations, preprint (2023), arXiv:2305.04019; Bensoussan, A. and Yam, S. C. P. [2019] Control problem on space of random variables and master equation, ESAIM Control Optim. Calc. Var. 25, 10]. Our method is to embed the mean field type control problem into a Hilbert space to bypass the evolution in the Wasserstein space. We here give a necessary condition and a sufficient condition for these control problems in Hilbert spaces, and we also derive a system of forward–backward stochastic differential equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]